Reminiscences of reconstruction in Texas ; and, Reminiscences of Texas and Texans fifty years ago Page: 22 of 58
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22 RECONSTRUCTION IN TEXAS.
At the time he received his commission, it was on condition that
he write out his resignation and place it in the hands of a person
high in the confidence of the Governor and the Radical party, which
resignation was to be handed to the Governor whenever demanded
by him, or whenever the person holding it chose to give it to the
Governor. The rumor and the popular belief was that the appointment
was made for the special disposition of a certain criminal
case, then pending in the district court of Robertson county. This
case was disposed of, and it was said that the judge and the party
holding his resignation disagreed about some matters that grew out
of said case, or were dependent on the disposition of the same, and
hence his resignation was handed to the Governor. Fortunately
for the people of the district, a good man and able lawyer was appointed
in the place of Thurman, Judge John B. Rector.
The Thirteenth Legislature assembled at Austin on the 14th day
of January, 1873, and adjourned on the 4th day of June. This
Legislature, taken as a whole, was a most intelligent and patriotic
body of men. In its membership were included some of the most
noted men of Texas. While the House of Representatives of this
Legislature was overwhelmingly democratic, there was trouble in
the Senate. Three Senators, while claiming to be democrats, sympathized
to a great extent with some of the most obnoxious acts of
the Twelfth Legislature, and could not be depended on to aid in the
repeal of the same. To the honor of Webb Flanagan, who was then
a member of the Senate, a strict republican and a man of potent
influence with his party, his fellow Senators and Governor Davis,
he co-operated with the democrats and rendered it possible for this
Legislature to repeal the State police law, and to qualify largely the
election and registration laws passed by the Twelfth Legislature.
This Legislature by persistence and prudent management under
many difficulties opened the way and laid the foundation for the
complete emancipation of Texas from Radical rule and negro domination.
By an act of this Legislature, approved May 26, 1873, the
members legislated themselves out of office, and provided for an
election for Governor and all other elective State officers, for thirty
Senators and ninety Representatives, and all elective county officers,
on the first Tuesday of December, 1873. At this election Coke
was elected Governor, and a Legislature overwhelmingly democratic
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Wood, William D. Reminiscences of reconstruction in Texas ; and, Reminiscences of Texas and Texans fifty years ago, book, 1902; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth14387/m1/22/?rotate=90: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.